Rotary developing tank



Aug. 22, 1950 2,519,337

S. S. ALBERTS ET AL ROTARY DEVELOPING TANK Filed April 1l, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 n l l ov Mmd 75M THE/IE ATTORNEYS Aug. 22, 1950 s. s. ALBI-:RTS ETAL ROTARY DEVELOPING TANK Filed April 11, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

l -.qq-I Till/.R ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY DEVELOPING TANK v'Sydney S. Alberts and Arthur S. Alberts, Yonkers, N. Y.

Application April 1l, 1946, :Serial N o. 661,404

(Cl. :B-90.59

122 Claims. 1

`This invention relates to apparatus Afor processing photographic materials .and relates more particularly to an improved processing tank for photog-raphic negatives.

The primary object o .the invention is to provide a .negative processing apparatus in which the undeveloped negative can be placed and -from which 'it need not be removed until all vthe various stepsofdeve'loping, treatment with stop andxing baths, and washing are completed.

Another object of the invention is to provide va negative vprocessing tank in which 'fthe Vagitation of the negative in the bath is wholly automatic, thereby Aeliminating the necessity vfor manual agitation or manipulation.

Another object of kthe 'invention .is to provide .a lnegativeprocessing apparatus which 'will y"accomplish a more thorough agitation of the 'negative in the bath.

Another object .of the invention is to provide a negative processing apparatus which .facilitates the `maintaining of a uniform temperature ofthe bath.

A further object Aof lthe vinvention "is to provide a negative processing rapparatus ortank which can be conveniently manipulated with .a minimum 'loss of time between the application of the ysuccessive treatment baths.

'The invention will 'be understood from xa consideration ofthe accompanying drawings 1in-which apparatus for "the treatment of roll yor strip film is `illustrated in a number of ldifferent 'embodiments, although it 'will be understood that 'the apparatus is susceptible of use for the treatment of flat .negatives merely 'by'an appropriate change in the yconstruction oi the negative holder. these drawings-t Fig. i is a view "in vertical :section taken centrally and on line 'I-'I Aci Fig. l2, of the preferred form of the processing apparatus Vor tank;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with parts broken Iaway and shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a 'fragmentary elevational view looking from the right of'Fig. -1 and drawn to a smaller scale;

Fig. -4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 4 4 'of Fig. 2';

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of a `modified form `of processing tank with lparts broken away and shown in central vertical section;

Fig. v6 is a view in central vertical 'section of another modification;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of a Vfurther .modification; and

Fig. `/is a similar view of still another modification.

the concentric Vouter cylindrical walls 4, also ex' tending upwardly from bottom member 3 and forming an annular chamber 5 surrounding `the processing chamber I.

' Extending upwardly from bottom member 3 and' fixed in a central boss 6 on the inner surface thereof, is a stationary vertical .shaft or arbor 'L the upper end of which is not .far Vbelow the top of the cylindrical walls 2 of developing chamber I. The negative holder, indicated generally by numeral 8 and in this instance comprising a reel for :roll or `strip film, is arranged to turn freely on shaft 1.

rlhe negative holder or lm reel Bmay'be ofany suitable construction and as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a spindle 9 having -an axial hole to receive shaft 'I on Awhich the'spindle freely turns. Near the 'lower end of 'spindle 9 Yis the lower reel end or head I'II vwhich may be formed integrally therewith, as indicated, or if desired may be adjustably positioned thereon `in any suitable manner after common practice. the top reel head or disk I'I 'is mounted. 'In vthe preferred arrangement the lower reel head Ill is fixed in position Aon Vspindle 9 and the top reel head II is -adjustably positioned thereon in any suitable manner Aso that the 'spacing between the two heads may be changed to accommodate different widths of nlm strip. The lowermost position of upper reel head I I is shown by the three parallel dot and 'dash 4lines just vbelow the :middle of the reel.

It will be understood vthat these two reel heads are vprovided with spiral channels, as is customary;

and that the opposite marginal edges of the film I2 are threaded vinto these channels so that the li-lm strip is heldin position in a plural-ity of ccnvolutions slightly spaced `apart from one another at all points, the -iilm having, vi-n the drawings, Vthe appearance of a cylinder extending between Vthe* lower and upper reel 'heads iI=0 and H 'The outer walls f4 of annular :chamber `5 extend upwardly somewhat above the top Aof lthe inner cylindrical walls 2 of developing chamber l and within space is v.mounted an impeller wheel or :disk .-I 3 lwhich is arranged :to turn the spindle 5. 4For this `purpose the upper end of spindle 5- is .reduced .somewhat inzdiameter., forming a :shoulder M and this upper reduced portion is fslabbed as indicated .at J5 in Fig. 2 and the aperture.

Farther up 'on spindle s 3 through hub I6 of impeller I3 is shaped to fit this flat-sided extension of the spindle, the parts having an easy sliding nt so that the impeller wheel may be readily slipped onto or removed from the top of the spindle. Y

Impeller member I3 is preferably a continuous disk which substantially lls the cylindrical space within the outer walls 4 with just enough clearance provided to allow for free rotation. The impeller blades Il project downwardly from the lower surface of the peripheral margin of impeller I3 wholly within the annular temperature control space 5, so that water directed against these blades will be collected within such annular space and prevented from admission to the processing chamber I.

A stream of water under suitable pressure to play against blades Ii and cause rotation of the impeller I3 and consequently spindle 9 and lm IZ isA supplied by means of a nozzle I8 under the control of a hand valve I9. This water is supplied under a controlled temperature through a exiblc tubing 23 which may conveniently be connected to 'a hot and cold water mixing faucet for the purpose of temperature control. It will be understood vthat a thermostatic mixing valve may be used, if desired, in order to control the temperature within close limits.

The water under such controlled temperature, after driving the impeller disk I3, forms a temperature controlling bathin the annular temperature control space 5, the level of this bath being fixed by means of an outlet 2l shown at the left i'nFigs. land 2. A flexible. tubing may be applied to this outlet for convenient disposal of the overow. v

cFor the purpose of filling processing chamber l with' the desired treatment solution, a conical filling spout 22, within which the lower end of a vided which may. be conveniently graduated ace.,

cording to the film number, so that when a film of a given size is to be processed the chamber I :.vvillv be filled to the level corresponding to that number.

...A-suitable overflowy outlet; 28Y fromprocessing 4 ment of the reel, and continually to bring a given point on the nlm in contact with a different part of the solution, provision is made for an axial motion of the film reel simultaneously with the circular motion. This is accomplished by means of a cam 33 below the lower reel head I0 which coacts with a stationary abutment member 34 shown in the form of a rod threaded into boss 6 adjacent shaft l. As the reel 8 rotates it is shifted from the full-line position to the'position indicated by the dot-and-dash lines during each complete revolution. The member on which cam 33 is formed is fixed to the lower end of spindle 9 and, a-s indicated, may be made integral with the lower reel head II).

The impeller I3 being carried on shoulder I4 of spindle 9 has an up and down movement with the reel 8.- The impeller vanes I'I are of sufficient length so that they will not move out of the influence of the jet or nozzle I8 during this up and down movement.

impeller i3 is used to rotate reel 8 only during the processing of the film with the lvarious treatment solutions such as the developing bath, the acid step bath, and the xing or hardening bath, or, in other words, up to'the` point of washing the lm free of all traces 0f chemical solution which usually requires the longest period of time. In order to conserve Water a second impeller is provided inside of the inner chamber I. This second impeller comprises an impeller disk 35 having on its upper surface a series of spaced impeller ribs 36, the disk being xed in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of a force t, on spindle 9 just above the upper reel head II. Impeller disk 35 is thus permanently fixed in position on spindle S while reel head II may be adjusted downwardly as vmay be required to support the narrower sizes of film.

' A second water nozzle 3l (Fig. 4) is directed downwardly at an angle so as to carry the stream against the sides of the impeller ribs 35 at all the positions of the impeller disk in its `up and down movement under the action of cam 33. A valve k 3B is provided to control the ow of Water through chamber I may be provided. When it is desired to drain chamber I of the treatment solution thismay be accomplished by means of an outlet valve 29 at. the bottom of channel 24 'opposite cross-passage 2 5. l

Whilethe impeller disk I3 serves as a partial light excluding cover for the processing chamber I this chamber is preferably provided With a cover member 35 Whichfits closely the periphery ofjcylindrical walls 2. Cover 30 is provided with a light trap surrounding spindle 9 comprising the spacedA telescoping sleeves 3| and 32, the latter sleeve being mounted on a member to be described below. f 1

f2-*In order to avoid streaking ofthe film which movement of agitation ofthe -film 'with respect tothe treatment solution, and to avoid setting up acontinuous circular movement of the solution inf-sympathy with a continuous circular movenozzle 37 and the water, after impinging on the impeller ribs 36 collects in chamber I, valve 29 being closed, up to the level of outlet 28 which maintains the height of the water bath above the topvof'the upper edge of the film but at such a level that the impeller ribs 36 operate substantially at or above the water level at all times. Sleeve 32 which cooperates with sleeve 3| to form a light trap for the cover 35 around the spindle may be made integral with disk 35 as indicated in Fig. 1. It is to be noted that these two sleeves arev of sufficient length to permit the up and down movement of the rotating parts above referred to and caused by cam 33.

In the modified form of the improved processing tankI shown in Fig. 5,` only a single impeller member, the impeller disk I3a is used, and there is also no up--a'nd down movement of the nega,- tive holder 8a, the loam 33 of the form shown irl- Eig. l'ibeing-omitted.v -In other words, this modification provides a i somewhat simplified form of the invention. 7

inasmuch as the second or inner impellerv disk is omitted, the sleeve.. .32a of the light trap is provided with a collar portion 39 of reduced diameter in order to secure the part in place on spindle 9a by means ofl a set screwV 4m Since there is no up and down movement of spindle 9a and its associated parts 'including negative holder 8a., the impeller blades I'are shorter in length, also the long stationary shaft of Fig. 1 is omitted and in place thereof a short pintle 4| is arranged preferably as anV integral projection from. the bottom wall 3a of the tank. Pintle lll' engages' in a short axial recess 42 in thev lower end of spindlev 9a. As shoiwn in Fig. 5, the lower reel. head Ita ofV film holder 8a is shown as also being made integrally with the lower end of the spindle.

In using this form of processing tank, the manipulation is much the same as with the preferred form shown in Fig. 1, that is to say, the various treatment solutions are admitted to and removed from the inner processing chamber la in precisely the same way as in the case of chamber l. The difference in operation is that there is no up and down agitating movement, but' only a circular movement of the nlm reel or holder 8a.

It will be understood thatl the developing tank shown in Fig. 5 is provided with nozzles 35 and 3-1 just as is the tank o1 Fig. 1. The opening of nozzle 3i, however, can be enlarged, if desired, est iti serves only the purpose of admitting water for washing purposes into the chamber la. The admission of this lwater is controlled by valve 38, and valve I9 is manipulated to control the speed of rotation of the impeller disk i3a which is used to rotate the i'lhn reel 8a during the washing operation as well as during the treatment of the lm with the various chemical solutions. In this form of processing tank, the water from the impeller which is collected in the outer or concentric chamber 5 serves to control the temperaturey of the developing bath and other treatment baths in the same way as in the case of the tank shown in Fig. l.

Referring now to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, three different forms of further simplified processing tanks embodying some but not all of the desirable features of the tank of Fig. 1 are shown. rIhe modiircation of Fig. 6 is a form of developing tank which may be operated manually, or by an external source of power, whereas the form shown in Fig. 7 is manually operated during the developing and iixing of the negative, but automatically agitated during washing, and Fig. 8 shows .a modification intended for Iwashing only.

In Fig. 6, the processing tank comprises la bottom wall 43 and cylindrical side walls 44 which are closed at the top by means of a cover 5. The cover embodies a light trap E around its periphery comprising a pair of spaced annular flanges, the inner one of which is received looselyl within a groove el in the top of the tank, and two pouring slots 48' are provided at diametrically opposite parts of the cover through which the treatment solutions may be drained from the interior of the tank, air entering through one while the liquid flows out through the other.

Cover 45 is provided with the usual funnel surface- 9 surrounding spindle 50 for introducing the liquid. Also, it has a light trap around the funnel neck composed of two spaced annular flanges 52 that coact with a pair of spaced annular anges 53 which project upwardly from a disk 5d attached to spindle 53 inside the cover.

The inner annular iiange 53 is provided with liq-l uid passages 55 which are angulafrly displaced fromV similar passages 56 in the outer flange 53. Thus the. cover construction embodies a device to allow the treatment solutions to be introduced into the developing tank after the `cover isin place.

The negative'holder or lm reel 8b is similar to the negative holder' 8. except for a ichangein the cam device for causingV the up and down. agitating movementofthe reel. It comprises a lower reel head Hla and an upper reel head Ha., the.` lower reel head being fixed to the lower endr of spindle 53 and the upper reel head being shiftable in position thereon so as to accommodate film strips of different width. In the position shown, the upper reel head l la is adjusted to receive the maximum width of nlm.

Spindle 50 has .a central axial opening to receive a stationary shaft 'la which maybe mounted in base member d3 in much the same way as shaft I in Fig. 1 Instead of cam 33 being mounted on the spindle or on the lower reel head as in Fig. 1, however, a cam disk 5l is secured in fixed position onV stationary shaft la,

and a support 58 in the form of a projection from. surface of the spindle and lower reel the lower head assembly engages the cam disk. Consequently, when the spindle is rotated, the iilm on thereel will be given la compound agitating movement, that is, both a circular and an up and down movement. Rotation may be imparted to:

spindle 50 by an outside source of power in any convenient manner, such, lfor example, as by a.

pulley 5i forced onto the knurled upper end of the spindle and a belt 5l which may be driven by an electric, or other, motor. lso pulley 5| may be removed and spindle 5i] rotated by grasping the knurling with the fingers.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the construction is exactly as described in connection with Fig. 6 except that the upper reel head I ib is provided with impeller ribs 59' which are similar to ribs 36 of the second impeller disk 35, and provision is made for supplying a stream of water under pressure against these ribs during the washing operation, and for maintaining the level of the water at the proper height with respect to the nlm and these impeller ribs.

The impelling stream of water is supplied through a iiexible tube 68 to a nozzle member 61| having a control valve 62 and a nozzle tip 53. Nozzle member 6l is pivotally mounted in a recess inthe side wall of the tank above the liquid level, being frictionally held in adjusted postion in this recess by means of a plate 1S which may be date the maximum width of4 film, nozzle tip 63 will be adjusted to its full line position. However, when the reel head IIb is moved downwardly on spindle 55, for example to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. "I so that the reell may accommodate a considerably narrower nlm, nozzle 63 will be adjustedto about the position shown in dotted lines. Thus the nozzle may be adjusted to direct an eiective stream against the impeller ribs under all conditions. The change in level of the ribs during the up and down movement imparted by cam 51 will not substantially affect rotation. Also, it will be understood that the flanges 52 and 53 which form the light traps around the spindle 5l).r in both Figs. 6 and 7 are of'suiiicient length in a direction parallel to the axis of the spindle to permit this up and down movement.

Inasmuch as it is necessary, in order to pro-v the position shown in full' lines in Fig. 7 in order to accommo-4 vide proper rotation of the film reel'by the jet of Water acting upon the impeller ribs 59, to adjust the level of the water washing bath so that it is above the edge of the lm but not substantially above the impeller ribs 59, a device is provided for changing the level of the water bath with change in the width of the iilm undergoing treatment. For this purpose, the form of the tank shown in Fig. 7 is provided with an outlet connection 64 at the bottom having an outlet valve 65 which may be connected to the drain by means of a flexible tube or otherwise. Also connected to outlet 64 is an upright tube 66 which extends about half way up the side of the tank; Fitting over tube 56 is an adjustable sleeve 61.

Valve 65 vis intended primarily for draining the developing, iixing and other treatment solutions from the tank, and during this part of the processing of the nlm sleeve Si will be adjusted to a position somewhat above that shown in Fig. 7 in order to prevent overow of solution from the upper end of the sleeve. Whenever it is desired to carry on the operation of washing the film, sleeve 6l is adjusted to the position of Fig. 7, valve 65 is closed and the water overflows from the upper end of sleeve 61 thereby maintaining the bath at the desired level for washing the maximum width film. When narrower films are being washed, sleeve 61 is lowered correspondngly.

It will be understood that the lrn reel of the device of Fig. '7 may, if desired, be rotated during developing, fixing and washing, by an external source of power as described in connection with Fig. 6, the wash water being preferably introduced through the funnel opening in the top.

In the modincation of Fig. 8, a washing tank has been provided in which the agitation is accomplished automatically. It consists of a simple cylindrical container 58 closed at the top with a cover B9. A spindle 'lo supports lower and upper reel heads Hic and l ic respectively, these being adjustable thereon to support dilerent width film. Above reel head llc and fixed in position on spindle 'l0 is an impeller disk il having impeller ribs V'l2 on its upper surface. Thisimpeller is not unlike impeller 35 of Fig. 1. A nozzle '.'3'

ismounted in the side wall of tank 68 at an appropriate angle to discharge a stream of water under pressure against ribs l2. Nozzle 13 is fixed instead of being adjustable like nozzle S3 since the position of impeller disk H is independent of the adjustment of reel head Hc.

The lower end of spindle 'l0 is received in a' bearing recess 14 provided in a boss formed in the bottom of tank B8. The upper end of spindle projects above impeller disk 1I just enough to serve as a handle in lifting out the lm reel.`

A discharge outlet tube '.75 is arranged in the side of tank E8, the wash water overiiowing from the top of this tube, which maintains the water level within the tank. It is not adjustable as the same water level is maintained regardless of the width of lm being washed.

By means of our invention, there has been provided a form of processing tank which eliminates the tediousness from the work of developing, fixing and washing of photographic negatives. The improvedY tank also provides for better temperature control and better agitation of the negative undergoing treatment, bringing all portions thereof continuously into contact with` fresh solution or wash water. VAt the same time,

the improved construction is not complicated but on,Y theother hand is simple, is not expensive to manufacture and is convenient to use, resulting in quicker and more thorough development, fixing and washing.

lt will be understood that various constructional changes in the apparatus described above, and various combinations of parts, may be made Within the scope of the invention. For example, the stationary form of cam shown in Figs. 6 and '7 for producing the rise and fall movement of the rotating negative holder can be used in Fig. 1 in place of rotating cam 33 and abutment member 34; also, this type of cam may be used in the device of Figs. 6 and 7. If desired, the reel head Hc of Fig. '7 with its impeller ribs 59 may be used in the processing tank of Fig. 1 replacing reel head Il and impeller disk 35. In that event, an adjustable nozzle 63 would also replace xed nozzle I8. Similar changes can be made in the washing tank of Fig. 8, utilizing the reel head l lbwith its integral impeller ribs 59,thus eliminatingthe necessity for a separate impeller disk as shown in Fig. 8 and described above. With this change, the adjustment of the film reel for dierent widths of lm is accomplished by moving the lower reel head Hic upwardly for narrower widths of iilm than that illustrated in Fig. 8. It will be understood that other changes may also be made in the several embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention or without exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A photographic negative processing apparatus compr'ming a receptacle having an inner processing chamber to contain a liquid treatment bath and an outer chamber surrounding the same, a rotatable negative holder, means for supporting said holder for rotation within said processing chamber, an impeller wheel operative to rotate said holder having blades disposed within outer chamber, and a nozzle for drecting a jet of water against said blades.

2. A photographic negative processing apparatus comprising a receptacle having a bottom and spaced side walls forming a cylindrical processing chamber to contain a liquid treatment bath and an outer chamber surrounding the same, a rotatable negative holder, means for supporting said holder for rotation about a vertical axis Within said processing chamber, an impeller wheel operative to rotate said holder having blades disposed within said outer chamber, and a nozzle for directinu a jet of water against said blades.

3. A photographic negative processing apparatus comprising a receptacle having an inner processing chamber to contain a liquid treatment bath and an outer chamber surrounding the same, a rotatable negative holder, means for supporting said holder for rotation about a vertical axis within said processing chamber, an impeller wheel operative to rotate said holder having blades disposed within said outer chamber, a nozzle for directing a jet of water against said blades, said water collecting in said outer chamber, whereby the saine water` serves first to rotate said holder and afterward to supply a temperature controlling bath for the liquid in said processing chamber.

V4.111 a photograph negative processing apparatus, a receptacle containing a liquid treatment bath, `a removable cover member for said receptacle, a negative holder, a spindle for rotatably supporting said holder within said receptacle, one end of said spindle extending through said cover, means for producing axial movement of said holder during rotation thereof 'to bring the sur- .faceof; they negative in said holder continuously into contact with different portions of said bath liquid, said cover member havingY an aperture therein for said spindle, an impeller disk secured to said spindle above said cover member, and a cylindrical ski-rt projecting from said disk and vsurrounding the upper edge portion of said ree c'eptacle and cooperating therewith at all positions of said spindle to exclude light from the interior of said receptacle.

5. In a photograph negative processing apparatus, areceptacle to` contain a liquid treatment bath, avertically extending spindle mounted for rotation therein, anegati've holder comprising an upper nega-tive support mounted for vertical adjustment along said spindle, a lower negative support fixed to said spindle, said supports being adaptedY to receivev different sized `negatives therebetween and being rotatable with said spindle in said receptacle, impeller means for rotating said spindle iiXed thereto above the uppermost position of said adjustable support, and a nozzle associated with said receptacle to direct a jet of liquid against said impeller means, said treating bath, a vertically-extending spindle mounted for rotation therein, negative-holding means carried by said spindle and spaced vertically thereon to maintain a negative in vertical position in the receptacle for treatment by a liquid treating bath therein, at least one of said negative-holding means being non-rotatively connected to the spindle. an outlet from said receptacle for maintaining a liquid treating bath at a predetermined level in said receptacle, impeller means mounted on the spindle and nonrotatively connected thereto, whereby rotation of the impeller means causes rotation of the spindle and the negative-holding means non-rotatively connected thereto, and a nozzle carried by the receptacle to direct a .iet of liquid against the impeller means, said impeller means and the nozzle both being above the predetermined level of the bath in the receptacle, whereby the liquid bath in th receptacle does not interfere with a jet of liquid from said nozzle being directed. against the impeller means.

7. In a photographic negative processing apparatus, a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid treating bath, a vertically-extending spindle mounted for rotation therein, negativeholding means carried by said spindle and spaced vertically thereon to maintain a negative in vertical position in the receptacle for treatment bv a liquid treating bath therein, at least one of said negative-holding means being non-rotativelv connected to the spindle, an outlet from said receptacle for maintaining a liquid treating bath at a predetermined level in said receptacle, impeller means mounted on the spindle and nonrotatively connected thereto, whereby rotation of the impeller means causes rotation of the spindle and the negative-holding means non-rotatively connected thereto, a nozzle carried by the receptacle to direct a jet of liquid against the impeller means, said impeller means and the nozzle both being above the predetermined level of the bath in the receptacle, whereby the liquid bath in the receptacle does not interfere with a jet of liquid from said nozzle being directed against the impeller means, and means to recipf the impeller on the spindle, and a nozzle carri'ed bythe receptacle in a position to direct a. j'et of water against' theV impeller to cause rotation thereof and the spindle and negative holders mounted thereon.

9. In a photographic negative processing apparatus, a receptacleadapted to contain a liquid treating bath. a vertically-extending spindle mounted for rotation therein, a negative holder comprising upper and lower negative supports mounted in relatively adjustable position on the spindle to receive negatives of different sizes between them, impeller means carried at the upper side of the upper negative support, an overflow outlet for said receptacle at a level to maintain the treatment bath therein below said impeller means and at least as high as negatives carried by the negative holder, and a nozzle carried by the receptacle to direct a stream of liquid against the impeller means.

10. In a photographic negative processing apparatus, a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid treatment bath, a vertically-extending spindle mounted for rotation therein, a negative holder comprising a lower negative support secured to the spindle, an upper negative support carried by the spindle and adjustable therealong, whereby the space between the upper and lower negative supports may be varied to receive negatives of different sizes between them, said negative supports being rotatable with the spindle in the receptacle, impeller means mounted on the spindle and positioned at least as high as the upper side of the upper negative support. a nozzle carried by the receptacle to direct a jet of liquid against said impeller means. and an overiiow outlet for said receptacle adiustable t0 substantially the level of the ton of a negative in the negative holder to maintain the level of the treatment bath in the receptacle above such negative and below the impeller.

1l. A photographic negative processing apparatus comprising a receptacle having an inner processing chamber to contain a liquid treatment bath and an outer chamber surrounding the same, a rotatable negative bolder. means for supporting said holder for rotation about a vertical axis within the nroressincr chamber, an impeller wheel operative to rotate said holder having blades disposed within the outer chamber, a second impeller means mounted for rotation with the holder within the processing chamber, and a nozzle carried by the outer chamber for directing a stream of water against the blades of said first impeller and a second nozzle carried by the inner chamber for directing a jet against the second impeller means, whereby the same water may be to rotate the holder and to Wash a negative carried by the negative holder.

l2. In a photographic negative processing apparatus, a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid -treatmentbath, an outlet for maintaining a predetermined level of liquid within the receptacle, a vertically-extending spindle mounted for rotation withinthe receptacle, a negative holder comprising a lower negative support fixed to said lspindle and an upper negative support mounted for vertical adjustment along said spindle to vary the spacing between said supports for receiving negatives Yoi diierent sizes between them, said negative supports being rotatable with the spindle in the receptacle, impeller means for rotating the spindle secured thereto above the uppermost position of the adjustable upper support, and a nozzle mountedwithin the receptacle to direct a jet 0i?V liquid against the impeller means, both the vimpeller means and the jet being at a level above the highest predetermined level of liquid bath in the receptacle, whereby the liquid bath in the receptacle does not interfere with the jet from the nozzle being directed against the impeller means. SYDNEY S. ALBERTS.

ARTHUR S. ALBERTS.

12 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record' in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 187,163 Miller Feb. 6, 1877 733,244 Mette July '1, 1903 750,665 Lesperance Jan. 26, 1904 '778,906 Shaw Jan. 3, 1905 932,265 Fritz Aug. 24, 1909 2,056,298 Schnelz Oct. 6, 1936 2,112,605 Pless Mar. 29, 1938 2,119,230 Hagen May 31, 1938 2,399,617 Ballantyne May 7, 1946 Y FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 417,043 Germany Aug. 4, 1925 611,511

l France July 10, 1926 

